And that is exactly why so many smart founders, executives, and creators hit a wall: they assume CES is a public event, submit the wrong registration type, upload the wrong proof, or show up in Las Vegas thinking they can sort it out on-site.
This 2027 guide is your shortcut. Not a hack, a clean plan.
CES 2027 runs January 6–9, 2027 in Las Vegas.1 If you want that badge in your hand and the right people on your calendar, here is how to get into CES with far less friction.
How to get into CES in 2027 by picking the right entry path
The biggest “pattern interruption” at CES is this: your badge is not just access. It is a label. It signals why you are there and what you are allowed to do.
- Industry Attendee: You work in, sell into, or invest in consumer technology, and you can prove affiliation.2
- Media: You are working press, analyst, or a qualifying content creator covering the show, and you can prove it.2
- Startup Exhibitor (Eureka Park): You qualify as a true startup and pass CTA’s selective review process.6
- Exhibitor, Meeting Space, or Sponsor: You reserve CES space or opportunities through the exhibitor sales process.5
If you choose the wrong lane, you do not just slow down. You risk a rejection, a badge type that blocks your goals, or a scramble that costs you the best meetings.
Trade-only rules: what CES means and what it demands from you
CES is a trade-only event. It is not open to the general public, and it is for individuals 18 years or older who are affiliated with the consumer technology industry.2
That trade-only positioning is what creates the “anchoring effect” that matters for your credibility. When you tell people you were at CES, the assumption is that you belonged there for business.
But it also means CES expects documentation. In most cases, you should anticipate uploading proof during registration and waiting for approval.2
How to register as an industry attendee and get approved
If you are a founder, CEO, PR lead, or partnerships leader, this is often the correct path. CES defines an industry attendee as non-media and not participating in an exhibitor booth or suite, and it requires proof of industry affiliation.2
What “proof of industry affiliation” really looks like
CES states that registrants must provide one item from each category, business and employment, and documents outside the pre-approved lists can delay review.2
Examples CES lists include business evidence like a company website or certain official documents, and employment evidence like an active LinkedIn page, a business card or employee ID, or a recent pay stub with sensitive info redacted.2
Practical move: Align your registration “story” across every touchpoint. If your company name, your role, and your digital footprint do not match, you create doubt. Doubt is what turns into delays.
Badge basics you should treat like a compliance task
CES requires a photo ID on your badge and indicates badges will not be printed without a recent headshot. CES also requires date of birth for registrants.2
CES also notes that badges are not mailed and that attendees must pick up their own badge at a remote pickup location prior to arriving at a CES show venue, with a valid government-issued photo ID required for pickup.2
That one detail alone can save you from a brutal first-day mistake.
How to get a CES media badge in 2027 (and who gets denied)
Media registration is granted to working media covering technology across verticals, including journalists, industry analysts, and content creators. CES also clearly lists roles that do not qualify, such as sales, PR, marketing, and other non-editorial professionals whose principal purpose is not coverage.2
Proof requirements: the part many creators underestimate
CES lays out specific examples of acceptable proof, such as multiple relevant articles with your byline within a defined window, or an assignment letter for editorial coverage. For digital content creators, CES includes minimum audience thresholds and requests a recent traffic or follower report verifying account activity.2
This is where FOMO becomes real: if your content is strong but your proof is messy, you may end up registering as an industry attendee, and that changes your access, your positioning, and sometimes your ability to move like press.
What media-only programming signals (and why it matters)
CES schedules media-specific programming. For example, CES 2026 Media Days were held January 4–5, 2026, and were open exclusively to registered media, including events like CES Unveiled Las Vegas.4 CES also publishes separate “dates and hours” across experiences like Media Events, conference program, exhibits, and more.3
For CES 2027, plan with that same logic: media opportunities tend to cluster before and during the show floor opening. Your outreach should be built early enough that you are not pitching from the hallway.
How to get into CES as a startup: Eureka Park
If you are early-stage and you want maximum density of investors, press, and partnership conversations, Eureka Park can be the highest-leverage square footage you will ever rent.
But CTA is explicit that qualifying to exhibit in Eureka Park is selective and that it is tailored for true startups, typically less than five years old, launching a first consumer tech offering.6
CTA’s criteria also emphasize that your product needs to be demo-ready and consumer tech relevant, and it notes that startups are generally limited to exhibiting in Eureka Park for a maximum of two years.6
Imagine a fictional founder, Maya, launching a smart hydration wearable. The product is real, the demo works, and the brand story is tight. Eureka Park is not just exposure for her. It is a credibility engine that makes inbound easier for the next 12 months.
How to get into CES as an exhibitor, sponsor, or with meeting space
If your real goal is market visibility, partnerships, and pipeline, exhibiting is the “own the room” strategy.
CES provides an exhibitor sales pathway and states that it is actively selling exhibit and meeting space, sponsorships, and custom opportunities for CES 2027, which is listed as January 6–9 in Las Vegas.5
Exhibitor benefits you should build into your plan
CES lists exhibitor benefits such as complimentary exhibitor badges based on exhibit space, invitations for customers and prospects, directory listings, use of the Exhibitor Dashboard for promotions, and access to the pre-registered media list plus PR Newswire discounts.5
Those are not “nice extras.” They are your distribution system. If you do not use them, you are paying for presence but leaving attention on the table.
Thought leadership: the credibility multiplier
CES describes sponsored thought leadership opportunities that elevate company experts through panels, breakouts, podcasts, and interviews, and it also references a call for speakers pathway for conference programming proposals.7
This is where strategic communications becomes tangible: you stop being “a booth” and become “a point of view.”
Common CES registration mistakes that quietly cost you access
Mistake 1: Treating registration like a formality. CES is clear that approvals depend on credentials, and it can request additional business credentials if necessary.2
Mistake 2: Uploading the wrong badge photo. CES lists specific photo rules and notes that avatars or AI-generated images will not be accepted.2
Mistake 3: Falling for scams. CES warns about registration scams and states that CTA designated Maritz as the only official registration vendor for CES 2026 and that official registration communication will be sent directly from CES.2
Even though that warning is written for CES 2026, the lesson is evergreen: do not outsource your registration to random third parties, and do not pay for “attendee lists” from unofficial sellers.
Turn CES into recognizable credibility, not just a busy week
CES is one of the few stages where you can stack trust quickly. Not by bragging, but by being visible in the right places with a message that matches what you are building.
That is why the best CES strategies integrate:
1) Communications: A narrative that is consistent across your website, your credential proof, your booth messaging, and your interviews.
2) Events: A plan for meetings, dinners, partner moments, or a product reveal. If you are activating across borders, international event planning keeps the moving parts from becoming the story.
3) Risk management: If something goes sideways, response time matters. Having crisis management services lined up is the difference between a contained issue and a headline you cannot control.
If you want help mapping how to get into CES and how to make CES 2027 pay you back in credibility, press, and partnerships, book a free 20 minute consultation call with Insite Strategy. Tell us your CES goal and your badge path. We will help you build the story, the plan, and the momentum.
References
- Consumer Technology Association. (n.d.). CES. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.ces.tech/
- Consumer Technology Association. (n.d.). Registration information. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.ces.tech/attendee-guides/registration-information/
- Consumer Technology Association. (n.d.). Dates and hours. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.ces.tech/plan-your-visit/dates-and-hours/
- Consumer Technology Association. (n.d.). Media days. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.ces.tech/media-guides/media-days/
- Consumer Technology Association. (n.d.). Reserve your space at CES 2027. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.ces.tech/exhibitor-sales/ces-exhibit/
- Consumer Technology Association. (n.d.). Apply to exhibit at Eureka Park. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.ces.tech/exhibit/apply-to-exhibit-at-eureka-park/
- Consumer Technology Association. (n.d.). Thought leadership opportunities. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.ces.tech/exhibitor-guides/thought-leadership/
- Consumer Technology Association. (n.d.). Customer support. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.ces.tech/about-ces/customer-support/
- Consumer Technology Association. (2026, January 9). CES 2026: The future is here. Retrieved January 26, 2026, from https://www.ces.tech/press-releases/ces-2026-the-future-is-here
